"Cross Cuts" by THE (COUNT) BISHOPS (2005 Ace/Chiswick 'Hip Pocket' CD Reissue/Remaster In Card Repro Artwork) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...I Want Candy..." 

I hate the way some great bands just kind of get sidelined - chucked in the pile marked 'interesting' but not quite Carling. The Count Bishops have always seemed to fit that bill. But I'd argue that like The Sex Pistols - they burned 'so' brightly for a short period of time - leaving behind a staggering legacy we're still feeling in (Hot) August 2016. That and they were blindingly great fun...

Riding on the 1975 shirt-tails of other dynamic retro R 'n' B Pub Rock bands like Dr. Feelgood and Ducks Deluxe - THE COUNT BISHOPS inaugurating the wonderful Chiswick Label with their incendiary "Speedball" EP in November of that year (Chiswick SW 1) - four storming cover versions that like the Lee Brilleaux/Wilko Johnson Dr. Feelgood's invasion of out hearts in 1975 and 1976 - felt new and fresh.

For me their April 1977 debut album "The Count Bishops" on Chiswick WIK 1 (the label's first LP) straddles that divide between Punk and New Wave. The Dutch album "Good Gear" followed on the Dynamo label and a further Chiswick 10" Mini-LP now trading as simply The Bishops - "The Bishops Live At The Roundhouse" in April 1978 on Chiswick CH 7. Which brings us to their forgotten and unfairly forlorn (too many f's baby) "Cross Cuts" album from 1979 - their last studio set released just after Zenon De Fleur's horrible loss in a car crash (March 1979) – just when the band was poised to make a real breakthrough with the their fantastic cover of "I Want Candy".

And that's where this fab and dinky Ace records 'Hip Pocket' CD reissue/remaster comes storming in. Here are the speedy details...

UK released June 2005 - "Cross Cuts" by THE BISHOPS on Ace/Chiswick CDWIKM 256 (Barcode 029667425629) is part of Ace's 'Hip Pocket' CD Reissue Series (see list below) and is a straightforward CD transfer of their 14-track 1979 album in a Card Sleeve Repro and plays out as follows (37:13 minutes):

1. I Take What I Want

2. Could You Would You

3. What's Your Number

4. Your Daddy Don't Mind

5. Good Times

6. Too Much, Too Soon

7. Rolling Man

8. I Want Candy [Side 2]

9.  Somebody's Gonna Get Their Head Kicked In Tonight

10. Hands On The Wheel

11. Don't Start Me Talking

12. These Arms Of Mine

13. No Lies

14. Mr. Jones

Tracks 1 to 14 are their 4th and final album "Cross Cuts" - released June 1979 in the UK on Chiswick CWK 3009 (no US release).

THE BISHOPS were:

DAVE TICE – Lead Vocals and Harmonica

ZENON DE FLEUR (real name Zenon Hierowski) – Guitars and Backing Vocals

PAT McMULLAN – Bass

PAUL BALBI – Drums

Admittedly the card sleeve isn't much to get your knickers in a knot about – much like the rather dull album artwork of the original LP. In fact the reduced details on the rear cover are nigh on impossible to read – but all that pales once you clap your tired lugs on the NICK ROBBINS Remaster which goes for the ballsack and pretty much stays there. This album sounds alive and fresh again...

Opening with a cover of a Stax hit "I Take What I Want" written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter for Sam and Dave (Stax S-175 in August 1965) – they decide to do with the song what Rory Gallagher did in October 1975 on his first album for Chrysalis Records "Against The Grain" – rock it out. This time they're more Wilko Johnson that Mississippi Delta slide. "Could You Would You" is an old Van Morrison Them song from their second platter "Them Again" in 1968 that American street charmer Willy DeVille covered for his 1988 "Miracle" album. In fact I'd swear naughty Willy lifted the Bishops' slightly Latin treatment of it wholesale for his DDD version with Mark Knopfler on Guitar. After that brief pace let up - we pop some not-fat speed and launch straight into Dave Rice's fantastic rocker "What's Your Number" which sounds like Lee Brilleaux fronting Dr. Feelgood with everything ramped to 13 on a 12-gauge speed dial. Dig that growling vocal, those riffing guitars and cool harmonica. Dave Rice and Zenon De Fleur contributed the wickedly infectious slide guitar boogie of "Your Daddy Don't Mind" where the boys convince us that pops won't mind if his daughter stays out late tonight. Both Cliff Bennett and The Easybeats had a go at Harry Vanda and George Young's bopper "Good Times" in 1968 on United Artists and Parlophone Records respectively. The Bishops keep their cover tight but choppy - piano rolls punctuating a great backbeat whilst having one eye on the single's market. But far better is an original from Dave Rice and Drummer Paul Balbi - the brilliant rocker "Too Much, Too Soon" - the kind of boogie blast that crosses Rock 'n' Roll and New Wave with ease (what a 45 this would have made). Side 1 ends with a superb Zenon De Fleur slide-guitar chugger - "Rolling Man" - the kind of beast that hooks you right from the get go and keeps you there with great guitar and crafty Harmonica hooks.

Side 2 opens with the fabulous raucous riffage of "I Want Candy" - originally a hit for The Strangeloves on Bang B-501 in May 1965 - though it's safe to say that most young men remember lusting after Annabella Lwin in Bow Wow Wow when they covered it in 1982 on RCA Records. The Bishops get that 60ts anarchy just right - a superb update of a neglected monster (I still have my 6" sized 45 with its picture sleeve on Chiswick 6 CHIS 101). That's followed by bizarre-covers ahoy - the Bishops going after a totally forgotten Fleetwood Mac song delightfully called "Someone's Gonna Get Their Head Kicked In Tonight" - a non-album B-side to "Man Of The World" on Immediate IM 080 in April 1969 (written by one of the band's guitarists Jeremy Spencer). It's drunken violence suits their 'get them out of their seats' Pub Rock attack. "Hands On The Wheel" is another quality rocker from Dave Rice and Zenon De Fleur while their signifying cover of the Sonny Boy Williamson Chess nugget "Don't Start Me Talking" has been done by everybody from Etta James, Dr. Feelgood and Mountain's Leslie West. The boys then discover their inner Stax by covering Otis Redding's hurting "These Arms Of Mine" - but things return to normal with Rice and De Fleur's "No Lies" - an almost poppy Nick Lowe tune. This excellent album ends with a cover of John Loudermilk's witty and saucy "Mr. Jones" which Chiswick tried as a British 45 in May 1979 (Chiswick CHIS 1111) but it didn't take.  

Given the strength of their material and especially their formidable live reputation as a band that slaughtered all put before them - it seems inexplicable to me even now that THE BISHOPS never charted anything - 45 or LP - drowned out by Punk and bigger New Wave names. Dull artwork - bad timing - cruel breaks - whatever it was - I think its time to reappraise. Like The Feelgoods, The Clash, The Pistols and The Damned – The Bishops lit up our world and I will always love them for that.

"I Want Candy" they sang in 1979. Well (pun intended) count me in...

Titles in Ace Records Mid-Price 'Hip Pocket' CD Series are:

1. DONALD AUSTIN – Crazy Legs (Ace/Westbound CDHP 016, Dec 2006)

2. THE BISHOPS – Cross Cuts (Ace/Chiswick CDWIKM 256, June 2005)

3. HADDA BROOKS – Femme Fatale (Ace CDCHM 1129, Nov 2006)

4. THE CHAMPS – Go, Champs, Go! (Ace CDCHM 1126, Sep 2006)

5. THE DAMNED – Machine Gun Etiquette (Ace/Chiswick CDHP 027, July 2007)

6. THE ESCALATORS [ex Meteors] – Moving Staircases (Ace CDHP 017, Dec 2006)

7. THE EVERLY BROTHERS – The Everly Brothers (Ace CDCHM 1127, Sep 2006)

8. FUNKADELIC – Maggot Brain (Ace/Westbound CDHP 030, Aug 2007)

9. CHUCK HIGGINS – Pachucko Hop (Ace CDHP 024, April 2007)

10. B. B. KING – The Jungle (Ace/Kent CDHP 031, Nov 2007)

11. JOHNNY MOPED – Cycledelic (Ace/Chiswick CDHP 029, Oct 2007)

12. JACKIE LEE – The Duck (Ace/Kent CDHP 032, Dec 2010)

13. LONNIE MACK – The Wham Of That Memphis Man! (Ace CDCHM 1134, Nov 2006)

14. MOTORHEAD – Motorhead [1977 Debut LP] (Ace/Chiswick CDHP 021, Oct 2007)

15. THE OLYMPICS – Something Old, Something New (Ace/Kent CDHP 018, Dec 2006)

16. THE RADIO STARS – Songs For Swinging Lovers (Ace/Chiswick CDWIKM 5, June 2006)

17. THE SONICS – Here Are The Sonics! (Ace/Big Beat CDHP 022, Feb 2007)

18. THE SONICS – The Sonics Boom (Ace/Big Beat CDHP 023, April 2007)

19. ROOSEVELT SYKES [aka 'The Honeydripper'] – Sings The Blues (Ace CDCHM 1132, Nov 2006)

20. VARIOUS – For Dancers Only [Kent's 1st Reissue LP compilation] (Ace/Kent CDHP 019, Feb 2007)

21. VARIOUS – For Dancers Also [Kent's 2nd Reissue LP compilation] (Ace/Kent CDHP 020, April 2007)

22. VARIOUS – Hollywood Rock 'n' Roll [80ts Rockabilly compilation] (Ace CDHP 026, July 2007)

23. VARIOUS – Fool's Gold [70ts Punk compilation] (Ace/Chiswick CDHP 028, August 2007)

24. LINK WRAY – Early Recordings (Ace/Chiswick CDCHM 6, June 2006

25. THE ZOMBIES – Odyssey And Oracle (Ace/Big Beat CDHP 025, June 2007)

"Street Corner Symphonies Volume 10: 1958" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (2012 Bear Family CD – Marcus Heumann Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…I Want To Have You Near...But You're So Far Away..."

Hot on the heels of their definitive "Blowing The Fuse" and "Sweet Soul Music" CD Series (15 volumes to each genre of R'n'B and Soul) comes Bear Family’s Vocal Group attack - 15 discs spanning 1939 to 1963. Volumes 1 to 10 hit the shops in 2012 and the last five in the spring of 2013. And while critics will argue that Vocal Group music has already been done to death by Rhino (3 x 4CD Box Sets across the decades) and a mountain of other cheapo labels taking advantage of the 50-year copyright law - this is the first time someone reputable (other than Rhino) have had a go - and typically these German-issued Bear Family CDs are gorgeous in all the right places - presentation and audio. And like its Volume 9 predecessor – Volume 10 has a huge 34 tracks and a format-busting playing time of 87:38 minutes! Let's march (not walk) 'Down The Aisle Of Love'...and have a 'Rama Lama Ding Dong' (if you know what I mean)...

Released October 2012 in Germany - "Street Corner Symphonies Volume 10: 1958" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Bear Family BCD 17288 AR (Barcode 4000127172884) breaks down as follows (I've provided American single catalogue numbers on all tracks - 87:38 minutes):

1. 16 Candles – THE CRESTS (Coed 506, A)

2. Lama Rama Ding Dong (aka Rama Lama Ding Dong) – THE EDSELS (Dub 2843, A)

3. For Your Precious Love – JERRY BUTLER and THE IMPRESSIONS (Vee-Jay 280/Falcon 1013/Abner 1013, A)

4. I Wonder Why – DION & THE BELMONTS (Laurie 3013, A)

5. Tears On My Pillow – LITTLE ANTHONY & THE IMPERIALS (End 1027, A)

6. So Fine – THE FIESTAS (Old Town 1062, A)

7. One Summer Night – THE DANLEERS (Amp 3 2115/Mercury 71322, A)

8. Stormy Weather – THE SPANIELS (Vee-Jay 290, A)

9. I Love You So – THE CHANTELS (End 1020, A)

10. Trickle, Trickle – THE VIDEOS (Casino 102, A)

11. This Is The Nite – THE VALIANTS (Keen 34044, A)

12. Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart – THE COASTERS (Atco 6116, A)

13. Drip Drop – THE DRIFTERS (Atlantic 1187, A)

14. Ten Commandments Of Love – HARVEY and THE MOONGLOWS (chess 1705, A)

15. Little Star – THE ELEGANTS (Apt 25005, A)

16. Pretty Girls Everywhere – EUGENE CHURCH and THE FELLOWS (Class 235, A)

17. You Cheated – THE SHIELDS (Tender 513/Dot 15805, A)

18. Western Movies – THE OLYMPICS (Demon 1508, A)

19. Try Me (I Need You) – JAMES BROWN and THE FAMOUS FLAMES (Federal 12337, A)

20. There's A Moon Out Tonight – THE CAPRIS (Planet 1010/Old Town 1094, A)

21. Lovers Never Say Goodbye – THE FLAMINGOS (End 1035, A)

22. No, No, No – THE CHANTERS (DeLuxe 6177, A)

23. So Far Away – THE PASTELS (Argo 5314, A)

24. Heart's Desire – THE AVALONS (Unart 2007, A)

25. Down The Aisle Of Love – THE QUIN-TONES (Red Top 108/Hunt 321, A)

26. Since I Don't Have You – THE SKYLINERS (Calico 103, A)

27. Try The Impossible – LEE ANDREWS and THE HEARTS with The Panco Villa Orchestra (United Artists 123, A)

28. I'm So Young – THE STUDENTS (Arranged and Conducted by Jimmy Coe) (Note 10012/Checker 902, A)

29. Here I Stand – WADE FLEMONS and THE NEWCOMERS (Vee-Jay 295, A)

30. Teardrops On Your Letter – HANK BALLARD and THE MIDNIGHTERS (King 5171, A)

31. Zoom Zoom Zoom – THE COLLEGIANS (Winley 224, A)

32. The Things I Love – THE FIDELITY’S (Baton 252, A)

33. I Met Him On A Sunday (Ronde-Ronde) – THE SHIRELLES (Tiara 6112/Decca 30588, A)

34. Oh Gee, Oh Gosh – THE KODOKS featuring Pearl McKinnon (Fury 1015, A)

The 82-page non-detachable booklet is a feast of indepth liner notes on each release by Grammy-winning writer and lifelong fan BILL DAHL. Let's put it this way - there's a 'Photo Captions' index on Page 81 that tells who's who in the black and white publicity shots that accompany most (not all) of the photos. It actually lists the singer's names  - who else but Bear would do this? There are a few cool trade adverts from 1958 peppering the text (The Collegians on Winley and The Students on Checker) and three of those rare American 45 labels are pictured (Casino, Keen and Checker). The CD repros the rare "One Summer Night" by The Danleers and the spine makes up a single photograph of the series name when you line up all 15 volumes alongside each other on a shelf. Long-standing and trusted names like Walter DeVenne, Nico Feuerbach, Victor Pearlin and Billy Vera have been involved in the research while Audio Engineer MARCUS HEUMANN did the superb mastering. The sources (as you can imagine) differ wildly but to my ears the sound quality is improved on everything that I've heard before (including some of the Rhino box sets). The audio and presentation are top-class here (a norm for Bear Family)...

1958 continued on from 1957 in being a pivotal year in Vocal Group history - hitting something of a pinnacle – beautiful ballads and cracking dancers combining to make this CD a wonderful overall listen (and all of it in top audio quality). In fact if I was pushed – and in terms of sheer vocal beauty/fun - I would say that both Volume 9 for 1957 and this Volume 10 set for 1958 are the compilation jewels in the crown for the entire "Street Corner Symphonies" run of 15 titles.

We open with blushing teenage romance - the gorgeous "16 Candles" by The Crests where Lead Singer Johnny Maestro croons his way into millions of American hearts (real name John Mastrangelo). The first bopper "Lama Rama Ding Dong" by The Edsels has great audio – very clean. We then enter the realms of musical magnificence and genre history – the Soulful vocals of Jerry Butler and The Impressions doing the immortal "For Your Precious Love" where the song blurs the lines between Vocal Group Music and early Soul – what a tune and its still moving to. Another reviewer is claiming that this is a wrong version to the May 1958 take on Vee-Jay - but I can't hear a difference between this and the Rhino box set inclusion (which is the 1958 Mono original). Maybe the initial mistake has been spotted and its been replaced? Back to fun with the brilliant "I Wonder Why" by Dion & The Belmonts – a fabulous slice of New York Street Corner bopping magic. Smooch-city returns with everyone's favourite balladeer – Little Anthony – telling us that "...love is not a gadget...love is not a toy..." in the American Graffiti atmospheric "Tears On My Pillow". There is a tender sweetness to "So Fine" by The Fiestas – an Old Town classic that sounds gorgeous here. Romance returns with "One Summer Night" by The Danleers – the kind of tune where you can just see the cars cruising the strip as the boys look out longingly at the girls they can’t reach.

While the Chantels is good - genuine magic hits your lugs with the impossibly rare "Trickle, Trickle" by The Videos who contained future members of Shep & The Limelites. It’s more bopping R 'n' B than Vocal Group but what a winner it is (the rare Casino 102 American 45 is reproduced on Page 26 of the booklet – the song was covered and charted by Manhattan Transfer in 1980). Genius inclusion and wicked unknown vocalists ahoy with "This Is The Nite" by The Valiants - where Lead Singer Billy Jones (aka Billy Spicer) does his best Clyde McPhatter impression and more than pulls it off (fabulous stuff). The audio leaps forward with "Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart" by The Coasters – it features two superb Leads – the deep as an ocean Bass of Will 'Dub' Jones (formerly with The Cadets and The Jacks) and Lean Tenor Cornel Gunter (ex The Flairs). It's craftily followed by a tune every Drifters fan adores – "Drip Drop" - bopping R 'n' B sung by Bobby Kendricks – a dead ringer for Clyde McPhatter's vocal style.

Romance returns in different paces – the sombre talking lurch of "Ten Commandments Of Love" by Harvey and The Moonglows and the very Dion & The Belmont sounding "Little Star" by The Elegants. After all that pleading it's time for fun as Eugene Church tells us that no matter where he looks (roads, beaches or parks) there's "Pretty Girls Everywhere" (I feel for the poor guy). Beautiful and rare – "You Cheated" by The Shields features Frankie Ervin on Lead Vocals and is a gem on this CD collectors will love having. The witty and catchy "Western Movies" by The Olympics sung by Walter Ward and resplendent with gunshots and Wild West references sounds like a Lieber/Stoller classic but was written by two lesser-known talents - Fred Smith and Cliff Goldsmith. It was a smash in June 1958 and has turned up on compilations ever since. We don't normally associate James Brown with the genre but his "Try Me" pleading vocal and the song's roots in Vocal Group classics warrants a tasty inclusion here. A duo of classics follow – "There's A Moon Out Tonight" by The Capris and the truly beautiful Flamingos End label gem "Lovers Never Say Goodbye" - dripping with atmosphere and romance, both are beloved by collectors.

Time to pick up the pace with a bopper "No, No, No" - where a very young sounding sets of lads The Chanters don’t want to be "kissed anymore" by girls but then say "yes, yes, yes" immediately after their denial (the poor dears are confused). Genius inclusion comes with the gobsmacking beauty of "So Far Away" by The Pastels where Lead Vocalist Di Fosco Ervin, Jr. combines his pleading with a wonderful almost operatic set of female backing vocalists. The result is this October 1958 masterpiece on Argo 5314 – the kind of massively evocative song that would stop you in your tracks if it sailed out of a radio. More smoochers are provided by Hank Ballard, The Fidelity’s and the lesser-known Wade Flemons - with the whole shebang ending on a bopper – the innocent sounding "Oh Gee, Oh Gosh" where cute Pearl McKinnon sounds not unlike Frankie Lymon backed by a rocking Teenagers. To sum up – I have to say playing this compilation has been a joy. Evocative, moving and damn it – fun.

Niggles - they're too expensive as singles discs and perhaps they should have been doubles because real collectors will have more than a few titles on offer here. Bear Family will argue 'but not in this sound quality or presentation' - and they'd have a point.

Presented to us with love and affection by a company that cares about forgotten voices that shouldn’t be forgotten. What a sweetheart of a compilation and another gold standard from Bear...

"Street Corner Symphonies Volume 9: 1957" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (2012 Bear Family CD - Marcus Heumann Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...The Look Of Love..." 

Hot on the heels of their definitive "Blowing The Fuse" and "Sweet Soul Music" CD Series (15 volumes to each genre of R'n'B and Soul) comes their Vocal Group attack - 15 discs spanning 1939 to 1963. Volumes 1 to 10 hit the shops in 2012 and the last five in the spring of 2013. And while critics will argue that Vocal Group music has already been done to death by Rhino (3 x 4CD Box Sets across the decades) and a mountain of other cheapo labels taking advantage of the 50-year copyright law - this is the first time someone reputable (other than Rhino) have had a go - and typically these Bear Family CDs are gorgeous in all the right places - presentation and audio. Here is The Book Of Love, Baby Oh Baby, Dedicated To The One I Love...

Released October 2012 in Germany - "Street Corner Symphonies Volume 9: 1957" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Bear Family BCD 17287 AR (Barcode 4000127172877) breaks down as follows (I've provided American single catalogue numbers on all tracks - 87:23 minutes):

1. Get A Job – THE SILHOUETTES (Junior 391, A)

2. Maybe – THE CHANTELS (End E-1005, A)

3. Little Darlin’ – THE GLADIOLAS (Excello 2101, A)

4. To The Aisle – THE FIVE SATINS (Ember 1019, A)

5. Searchin’ – THE COASTERS (Atco 6087, A)

6. Florence – PARAGONS (Winley 215, A)

7. Dedicated To The One I Love – THE “5” ROYALES (King 5098, A)

8. Book Of Love – THE MONOTONES (Argo 5290, A)

9. Long Lonely Nights – LEE ANDREWS and The Hearts (Chess 1665, A)

10. Mr. Lee – THE BOBBETTES with Reggie Obrecht Orchestra (Atlantic 45-1144, A)

11. Been So Long – THE PASTELS (Mascot M-123, A and Argo 5287, A)

12. Whispering Bells – THE DEL VIKINGS featuring Krips Johnson (Fee Bee FB-214, A)

13. Baby Oh Baby – THE SHELLS (Johnson 104, A)

14. Everyone’s Laughing – THE SPANIELS with Al Smith’s Orchestra (Vee Jay VJ 246, A)

15. Silhouettes – THE RAYS (Cameo 117, A)

16. Tell Me Why – NORMAN FOX and The Rob-Roys (Back Beat 501, A)

17. Why Do You Have To Go – THE DELLS (Vee Jay VJ 236, A)

18. Lover Boy – THE CLEFTONES (Gee G-1048, A)

19. Deserie – THE CHARTS (Everlast 5001, A)

20. My Girlfriend – THE CADILLACS (Josie 820, A)

21. Could This Be Magic – THE DUBS (Gone 5011, A)

22. Walking Along – THE SOLITAIRES (Old Town 1034, A)

23. Little Bitty Pretty One – BOBBY DAY and The Satellites (Class 211, A)

24. Tonite, Tonite – MELLO-KINGS (Herald H-502, A)

25. Peanuts – LITTLE JOE & THE THRILLERS (Leroy Kirkland Orchestra) (Okeh 4-7088, A)

26. Don’t Say Goodnight – THE VALENTINES (Rama RR-228, A)

27. Rang Tang Ding Dong (I Am The Japanese Sandman) – THE CELLOS (Apollo 510, A)

28. Happy, Happy Birthday Baby – THE TUNE WEAVERS (with Frank Paul’s Orchestra) (Checker 872, A)

29. Dance With Me – THE EL TORROS (Duke 175, A)

30. Can I Come Over Tonight – THE VELOURS (Sammy Lowe Orchestra) (Onyx 512, A)

31. Buzz-Buzz-Buzz – HOLLYWOOD FLAMES (Ebb 119, A)

32. So Strange – THE JESTERS (with David Clowney’s Band) (Winley 218, A)

33. Congratulations – THE TURBANS (Herald H-510, A)

34. Four O’Clock In The Morning – STANLEY MITCHELL and The Tornados (Chess 1649, A)

The 80-page non-detachable booklet is a feast of indepth liner notes on each release by Grammy-winning writer and lifelong fan BILL DAHL. Let's put it this way - there's a 'Photo Captions' index on Page 79 that tells who's who in the black and white publicity shots that accompany most (not all) of the photos. It actually lists the singer's names  - who else but Bear would do this? There are cool trade adverts from 1957 peppering the text and some of those rare American 45 labels are even pictured in colour (Ebb, Atlantic, Chess, Winley). The CD repros the rare "Four O’Clock In The Morning" by Stanley Mitchell and The Tornados (a rare and beautiful outing for Chess with Vocal group material) and the spine makes up a single photograph of the series name when you line up all 15 volumes alongside each other on a shelf. Long-standing and trusted names like Walter DeVenne and Billy Vera have been involved and MARCUS HEUMANN did the superb mastering. The sources (as you can imagine) differ wildly but to my ears the sound quality is improved on everything that I've heard before (including some of the Rhino box sets). The audio and presentation are top-class here...

1957 continued on from 1956 in being a pivotal year in Vocal Group history - hitting something of a pinnacle – beautiful ballads and cracking dancers combining to make this CD a wonderful overall listen (and all of it in top audio quality). In fact if I was pushed – and in terms of sheer vocal beauty/fun - I would say that Volume 9 for 1957 is the compilation jewel in the crown for the entire “Street Corner Symphonies” run of 15 titles.

While the “dip, dip, dip…” opening of “Get A Job” by The Silhouettes has always been a topical and fun tune ("if there is any work for me!") – Vocal group magic really kicks in with the truly gorgeous "Maybe" by The Chantels (on End Records). Arlene Smith’s extraordinary vocals shine on this love song that made No. 2 on the American Billboard R&B charts in early 1958. The same applies to The Dubs and their sneakily lovely "Could This Be Magic" where Richard Blandon’s Lead Tenor soars as he croons about “having your love” (a No. 23 hit for the Harlem group on Billboard’s Pop charts in August 1957). But I could happily live without hearing the awful castanets of “Little Darlin’” ever again (by anyone) – better is the genuinely touching wedding favourite “To The Aisle” by The Five Satins (“each step draws you closer…”).

In between the ballads and crooners you get wicked Fifties R 'n' B dancers like the "on my merry way" song "Walking Along" by The Solitaires while Bobby Day does his Thurston Harris impression on “Little Bitty Pretty One” (top audio quality too). Lieber & Stoller’s incredible wit and knack with a hooky melody comes screaming through the decades with The Coasters doing “Searchin’” where our hero tells us “Sam Spade and Bulldog Drummond…ain’t got nuthin’ on me…” The drums come loud and clear inbetween the vocal gymnastics for The Monotones on their classic “Book Of Love”. Chess puts in a rare Vocal Group nugget with Lee Andrews pines “what’s left for me to face…” on “Long Lonely Nights”. The boppin’ “Mr. Lee” has always been a great party tune but then you’re hit with one of the genres masterpieces – the so sweet “Been So Long” by The Pastels on Mascot (reissued on Argo in 1958). It’s a listed $300.00 rarity on the original label and you can easily hear why - gorgeous.

The soft-shoe-shuffle of “Whispering Bells” by The Del Vikings is another superb dancer. Two rarities follow in the shape of The Shells and The Spaniels – the first a romantic smoocher – the other a sort of mid-tempo Salsa pleader. “Why Do You Have To Go” is typically classy of The Dells – a group that have continued for near 50 years after the event. We go all Mad Men cool with the slick bopper “Lover Boy” from The Cleftones about a “run around boy” who steals girls (“brother better beware…”).  And on it goes to the obscure but brilliant “Four O’Clock In The Morning” by Stanley Mitchell – a rare outing on Chess for the genre – piano and drums slowly working the “so worried” lyrics and Clyde McPhatter soundalike vocals. Fab…

Niggles - they're too expensive as singles discs and perhaps they should have been doubles because real collectors will have more than a few titles on offer here. Bear Family will argue 'but not in this sound quality or presentation' - and they'd have a point.

Presented to us with love and affection by a company that cares about forgotten voices that shouldn’t be forgotten. What a sweetheart of a compilation and another gold standard from Bear...

"Elite Hotel" by EMMYLOU HARRIS (2004 Warner Brothers 'Expanded & Remastered' Edition CD) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Wheels To Take Ourselves Away..."

Like Bonnie Raitt, Carly Simon and Linda Ronstadt - the silken-voiced Emmylou Harris has always been a class act.

Her third album "Elite Hotel" from late December 1975 (January 1976 in the UK) started a home run of platters in the Seventies than include much-loved and rightly revered gems like 1977's "Luxury Liner" and 1978's "Quarter Moon In A Ten Cent Town" - and along with her spiritual and musical partner Gram Parsons – their mission was to bring Country Music, Country Rock and Americana to the masses. And we've been listening ever since...

Her second album - the equally lovely "Pieces Of the Sky" from August 1975 had managed a No. 45 chart placing in the States - but it was "Elite Hotel" at the very end of the year (29 December 1975) that firmly lodged the Alabama gal in our hearts. Three US 7" singles from March to September 1976 saw the Reprise Records album sell steadily and eventually climb further than its predecessor to No. 25 on the Pop charts and made her first dent in the UK at an even higher No. 17 position. "Elite Hotel" also became her first No. 1 Country album.

Extended and Remastered by the original 1975 Producer BRIAN AHERN and featuring members of The Eagles, Little Feat, James Burton and Herb Pedersen to name but a few of the amazing musician ensemble - this beautiful-sounding 2004 Warner Brothers CD reissue of "Elite Hotel" only pounds home the goodies - 'Ooh Las Vegas' indeed. Here are the sweet dreams...

US released February 2004 (March 2004 in the UK) - "Elite Hotel" by EMMYLOU HARRIS on Warner Brothers/Reprise/Rhino 8122-78109-2 (Barcode 081227810924) is an 'Expanded And Remastered' Edition CD with Two Bonus Tracks and plays out as follows (48:17 minutes):

1. Amarillo

2. Together Again

3. Feelin' Single - Seein' Double

4. Sin City

5. One Of These Days

6. Till I Gain Control Again

7. Here, There And Everywhere [Side 2]

8. Ooh Las Vegas (Live)

9. Sweet Dreams (Live)

10. Jambalaya (Live)

11. Satan's Jewel Crown

12. Wheels [with Jonathan Edwards]

Tracks 1 to 12 are her 3rd studio album "Elite Hotel" - released December 1975 in the USA on Reprise MS 2236 and January 1976 in the UK on Reprise K 54060. Produced and Arranged by BRIAN AHERN - it peaked at No. 25 on the US Pop charts and No. 17 on the UK LP charts. It also became her first No. 1 album on the American Country charts.

BONUS TRACKS:

13. You're Running Wild – Duet with RODNEY CROWELL

14. Cajun Born – Duet with JO-EL SONNIER

The beautifully presented 20-page booklet offers all a fan could want – great colour photos from the period – full track-by-track credits – lyrics - and hugely detailed new liner notes from HOLLY GEORGE-WARREN. But the big news is a new CD Remaster handled by DOUG BEAL and the album’s original Producer BRIAN AHERN. What a result – warm and exquisite – all the instruments sailing into your living room accompanied by that honey-voice. A gorgeous job done by all...

With Linda Ronstadt on Backing Vocals, the legendary James Burton on Guitar and Banjo player Herb Pedersen at the helm - the album kicks off in 'yee haw' Country style with "Amarillo" - a co-write for Emmylou with that prolific Texan Rodney Crowell. Emmylou warns that she lost her man to a jukebox and a pinball machine outside of that man-stealin' town. It's followed by one of the albums true masterpieces - a gorgeous and aching cover of Buck Owens "Together Again" - a 'key to my heart' weepy that tells us her tears have finally stopped flowing because they're...together again. Special mention also has to go to Glen Hardin who played the Piano on the song but also arranged the beautiful strings that underpin the amazing melody. Reprise saw the song's magic and radio potential so they popped out Reprise RPS 1346 in February 1976 with her equally sweet cover of the Beatles Revolver masterpiece on the flipside "Here, There And Everywhere". The American 45 reached 65 on the Pop charts but stormed the Country charts to reach the top spot of No. 1.

Wayne Kemp stumped up the dancehall "Feelin' Single – Seein' Double" - but that’s roundly trumped by another killer ballad - "Sin City" penned by Gram Parsons and Chris Hillman. With both John Starling and Herb Pedersen providing superlative three-way vocals with Emmylou – once again Glen Hardin plays Piano while Bernie Leadon of The Eagles and Producer Brian Ahern strum the Acoustic Guitars. It’s a fabulous melody and one that lingers long after things have moved on to the deceptive "One Of These Days" penned by Earl Montgomery. Byron Berline plays mandolin on the song and Reprise USA used its gentle sway as the A-side to their 2nd single from the album when they paired it with the beautiful Rodney Crowell ballad "Till I Gain Control Again" on Reprise RPS 1353 in May 1976. Personally I much prefer Crowell’s B-side "Till I Gain Control Again" which features Bill Payne of Little Feat on Piano and a slew of quality backing vocals from Linda Ronstadt, Jonathan Edwards, Dianne Brooks and Fayssoux Starling. Its haunting beauty was used again when it was paired as another B-side in January 1980 on Warner Brothers WBS-49164 to "Blue Kentucky Girl" from the 1979 album of the same name. Still we shouldn’t downplay the achievement of the A-side "One Of These Days" which made an impressive No. 3 on the Country singles charts.

Side 2 opens with that McCartney nugget "Here, There And Everywhere" – less famous than "Yesterday" but just as precious. Amos Garret plays Guitar and Bill Payne adds his expert keyboard skills – but the song is actually made by that Harris vocal and an echoed Harmonica courtesy of Mickey Raphael. It seems odd that Rhino missed the opportunity of putting the 3:05 minute US 7” single edit of "Sweet Dreams" on here as a Bonus Track – but we do get the 4:08 minute album version – the Don Gibson cover recorded live in front of an ecstatic crowd at The Roxy Theatre in Hollywood in June 1975. The edited live single of "Sweat Dreams" released September 1976 on Reprise RPS 1371 with "Amarillo" on the flipside gave Emmylou yet another Country No. 1 – and rightly so – it’s a truly touching version.

I normally can’t stand the hick "Jambalaya" – but Hank Williams is safe with Emmylou - and a song with a title as bizarre as "Satan's Jewel Crown" is the same – another '...His love set me free...' peaceful battle made by understated Dobro from Mike Aulderidge. This perfect Country Rock album ends with two of her main men inspiring – the Chris Hillman and Gram Parsons penned take-me-away "Wheels" with Jonathan Edwards on duet vocals (lyrics from it title this review). The two Bonus Tracks offer up beauty and a hoedown – "You're Running Wild" is a lone Acoustic Guitar duet with Rodney Crowell on a Ray Edenton and Don Winters song. It’s shockingly lovely – while "Cajun Moon" is a Bayou knees-up with Accordion player Jo-El Sonnier.

The final line of the Holly George-Warren liner notes describe the "Elite Hotel" album as 'exquisite' - nailed it good lady...

"Tres Hombres" by ZZ TOP (2006 Warner Brothers 'Remastered And Expanded' Edition CD - Bob Ludwig Remaster Of The Original Tapes) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Got A Lot Of Nice Girls...Ah!" 

Like most I picked up on our Texas Blues Boogie heroes when they walloped our jaded Prog Rock ears with 'riff that mother' album number three - the fab and groovy "Tres Hombres". It was an improvement on 1970's "First Album" which in turn was bettered by "Rio Grande Mud" from 1972.

But armed with the stunning riffage of "La Grange" (surely a shoe-in for the Top Ten Best Rock 7" single ever made) - everyone finally sat up and took notice for "Tres Hombres". It was their first album to chart in the USA - going Top Ten to No. 8 in August 1973 - ensuring their first of many Gold Disc awards - and the first platter most everyone else in the world took interest in. Like most - I've been a devotee ever since...

Yet it seems strange (even now) that excepting 1975's "Fandango!" and 1983's blockbuster "Eliminator" albums - much of their catalogue remains outside the realms of 'Expanded' or 'Deluxe Editions' on CD. The best we fans have had so far (in terms of Remaster value) being June 2013's very cool 10CD Box Set "The Complete Studio Albums 1970 to 1990" which I have enthusiastically entitled "YAR!" in my gushing appraisal (see separate in-depth review).

Time for more sombrero shuffles from one of the best three-piece Rock bands on the planet - ZZ TOP. Here are the beer drinkers and Hell raisers (and that's just Side 1)...

UK and USA released February 2006 - "Tres Hombres" by ZZ TOP on Warner Brothers 8122-78966-2 (Barcode 081227896621) is an 'Expanded and Remastered Edition' CD with Three Previously Unreleased Live Bonus Tracks that plays out as follows (46:13 minutes)

1. Waitin' For The Bus
2. Jesus Just Left Chicago
3. Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers
4. Master Of Sparks
5. Hot, Blue & Righteous
6. Move Me On Down The Line [Side 2]
7. Precious And Grace
8. La Grange
9. Shiek
10. Have You Heard?
Tracks 1 to 10 are their 3rd studio album "Tres Hombres" - released August 1973 in the USA on London XPS 631 and November 1973 in the UK on London SHU 8459 (reissued November 1983 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 56603). Produced by BILL HAM - it peaked at No. 8 on the US LP charts (didn't chart in the UK).

BONUS TRACKS:
11. Waitin' For The Bus (Live)
12. Jesus Just Left Chicago (Live)
13. La Grange (Live)
Tracks 11 to 13 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED live tracks recorded at the 'Capitol Theatre' in the USA (no dates provided)

ZZ TOP is:
BILLY GIBBONS - Guitars
DUSTY HILL - Bass
RUBE BEARD - Drums

The 12-page booklet is a pleasingly in-depth affair featuring new liner notes from uber-fan BOB MERLIS who can apparently still be heard shouting for "Precious And Grace" in the audience of his 126th ZZ Top concert. The 'food spread' photo that adorned the inner gatefold has pride of place on the inner two pages complimented by two photos of the 'hatted' trio. Merlis puts forward very funny and enlightening details on the creation of songs like "Master Of Sparks" (a homemade toilet with an aeroplane seat on the back of a truck with Billy Gibbons inside) and "Precious And Gone" (the names of two not so angelic prison ladies they picked up hitchhiking out on Route nowheresville).

But the big news is a new BOB LUDWIG Remaster which was done using original tapes at Gateway Mastering in Portland - and what an improvement the original mix is over that disastrous remixed 'Six Pack' crap from 1987. Originally recorded at Ardent Studios in Memphis to get a meatier sound than the two preceding albums - that original production value now comes roaring back in underrated album tracks like "Shiek" and the brilliant slide work of "Precious And Grace". There's a fantastic Southern Rock boogie to "Have You Heard?" too - the guitars and voices perfectly placed centre-stage in your speakers. A great job done...

It opens with a one-two sucker punch - the pairing of a rockin' "Waitin' For The Bus" which segues into the fabulous Blues of "Jesus Just Left Chicago" where our Saviour is 'bound for New Orleans and all points in between' - the remaster turning muddy water into wine. Blighty initially took "Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers" out for a spin as 7" single in June 1974 on London HLU 10458 with "La Grange" on the flip-side. Someone realised that the B was a bona fide A and put out "La Grange" on London HLU 10475 as late as January 1975 with "Just Got Paid" from 1972's "Rio Grande Mud" as its flip-side but amazingly it made no impression in rock-mad England (the US 45 for "La Grange" made No. 41 on their singles charts). "Master Of Sparks" is for me one of the albums unsung heroes - sneaky and brilliant - it's lasted better than most. Side 1 ends with the Blues - the slightly hissy "Hot, Blue And Righteous" - a very cool ZZ Top tune.

Side 2 goes all Allman Brothers with "Move Me On Down The Line" - a poppy tune for ZZ Top. And I'm with Bob Merlis on "Precious And Grace" especially when Gibbons goes into that great slide work. What can you say about the amazing and fun "La Grange" - if it's good enough for Bruce Willis and Armageddon and his golf shots on an oilrig - then it's ok by me. The LP ends on what seems like two slight ZZ Top tracks - but on re-hearing the 'my temperature has risen again' of "Shiek" and the "Jesus Just Left Chicago" identikit chug of "Have You Heard?" - both reward with guitar solo goodies in their midst...

Even the Bonus Tracks have a kick-ass sound to them - obviously they are the opening three songs to a well-recorded 'Capitol Theatre' gig as an excited announcer shouts "ZZ Top!” And don't you just love the way "Bus" slithers into that "Jesus Just Left Chicago" Blues chug (bound for New Orleans). The crowd are delirious by the time we get to a very raucous 'take this town' version of "La Grange" where Dusty lets rip on those pings...

"...You could not be lost...yeah yeah yeah..." - they sing on the gospel-tinged blues of the album finisher "Have You Heard?"

ZZ Top folks. I urge you to buy and hear this superb CD Remaster of "Tres Hombres" - thereafter don a tall hat and shout 'yeah baby' at your Guardian reading neighbours on a regular but suspiciously unhinged basis. YAR!

"Greenhouse" by LEO KOTTKE (1990, 1997 and 2008 Beat Goes On CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...A Tiny Island Floating In The Sea..."

I always find it astonishing that Leo Kottke's fifth album "Greenhouse" from the spring of 1972 is not lauded from on high nor held in as much reverence as its predecessors by critics - because the ace guitarist dares to 'sing' on some tracks.

Frankly I find all-instrumental LPs hard work at the best of times - but with 1972's "Greenhouse" - the virtuoso picker waxes lyrical on four of the tunes while the other seven are 6 and 12-string acoustic instrumentals. And for my money I can't get enough of his deep toned voice. I've got the magical live album follow up "My Feet Are Smiling" from 1973 and "Mudlark" that preceded them in 1971 - but its the gorgeous studio set "Greenhouse" that I return to most - an 'overlooked album' masterpiece if ever there was one. 

OK - titles like "From The Cradle To The Grave" and "You Don't Have To Need Me" may not indicate a '...I'd like to buy the world a Coke and sing in perfect harmony...' cheery-man's persona - but there is undeniable beauty in these Kottke songs. And this is before we even get to how ridiculously good his fingerpicking is - his slide work up and down those acoustic necks that would make Bert Jansch and Jimmy Page nervous. Throw in the warmth of his melodies - even when he's doing someone else's song (his beautiful cover of Paul Siebel's "Louise") – the overall impact is one of 'musical peace' if that makes any sense. Here are the 'don't throw stones' details...

UK released October 1990 (reissued September 1997 and December 2008) - "Greenhouse" by LEO KOTTKE on Beat Goes On BGOCD 50 (Barcode 5017261200501) is a straightforward CD Remaster of the 11-track 1972 LP and plays out as follows (36:39 minutes)

1. Bean Time

2. Tiny Island

3. The Song Of The Swamp

4. In Christ There Is No East Or West

5. Last Steam Engine Train

6. From The Cradle To The Grave

7. Louise [Side 2]

8. The Spanish Entomologist

9. Owls

10. You Don't Have To Need Me

11. Lost John

Tracks 1 to 11 are his 5th studio album "Greenhouse" - released February 1972 in the USA on Capitol ST-11000 and delayed to March 1973 in the UK on Capitol E-ST 11000. Produced by DENNY BRUCE - the LP peaked at No. 127 on the US LP charts (didn't chart UK).

"Tiny Island", "Louise", "From The Cradle To The Grave" and "You Don't Have To Need Me" are the four vocal songs on the LP sung by Kottke - the other seven are instrumentals. "Louise" is a Paul Siebel cover, "In Christ There Is No East Or West" and "Last Steam Engine Train" are John Fahey covers and "Tiny Island" is by Al Gaylor. "From The Cradle To The Grave" has music by Kottke and lyrics by Ron Nagle - "Lost John" is a Traditional adapted from a version by Doc Watson - all others are Kottke originals. Leo plays all 6 and 12-string Acoustic guitars on every track except "Lost John" where he's joined by Steve Gammell on second guitar.

England's Beat Goes On Records have had a 'thing' for LEO KOTTKE from the beginning of their near 30-year reissue service (see list below). CD number 50 in their back catalogue first appeared in October 1990 - was reissued September 1997 with the 1990 CD inside even though it has a 1997 copyright date on the artwork (new JOHN TOBLER liner notes in 1997) - and remains reissued on their catalogue since December 2008 (with the 1990 CD inside). In short this CD transfer and remaster has been on their books 26 years - hell I've a son that's almost that old. But why fix what isn't broken. The audio on this CD transfer is gorgeous to my ears - beautifully crisp and clean. Sound engineer SHORTY MARTINSON who did the original Acoustic recordings at Sound Eighty Studios in Minneapolis caught his performances so sweetly. Except to say that BGO licensed this from 'EMI Records Ltd' at the time - it doesn't say who remastered this or where - but I'm not fussing because the Audio is wonderful.

The 8-page inlay with John Tobler liner notes give a potted history of his 20 or so albums to the late Nineties - his enigma even to his fans - his staggering playing skills – and despite the wildly un-commercial nature of his music – how he charted 9 albums in the USA over the years. But you do wish he'd have elaborated more on the actual "Greenhouse" album that gets a bunch of sentences that are over too soon.

Born in Athens, Georgia in September 1945 (REM's spiritual home) - Kottke once cheerfully describing his singing voice as "...geese farts on a muggy day..." I think he's playing down his talents way too much - a cross between the nasal whine of Michael Chapman but the warmth of say Don McLean - I find his rich deep voice incredibly welcoming. That's what makes "Greenhouse" such a great LP. It opens with "Bean Time" - written for his grandfather who got him his first job doing the dread 'bean picking' out in the hot fields - "Bean Time" is a typical speedy instrumental where he attacks those frets like a wasp homing in its prey. Portland's Al Gaylor wrote the lovely "Tiny Island" and is the first of four vocals on the album (lyrics from it title this review). It's just Kottke and Guitar - a simple song filled with deep longing for peace - and it fits in with that image of him on the back cover of the LP - his head just visible - bobbing - peeping up just above the foliage in the greenhouse.

We then get his staggering combination of melody and playing technique in "The Song Of The Swamp" - a slide acoustic instrumental that wows even now on several fronts (beautiful transfer on CD too) that he describes in his original LP liner notes as 'a slithery tune concerning the pitfalls of real estate'. Two John Fahey covers follow - the instrumental spiritual "In Christ There Is No East Or West" and the 'catch that mother' pace of "Last Steam Engine Train" where you can see that loco puffing down the line like a giddy child. "...Running for my life at every moment...never having time to catch my breath..." he sings on Ron Nagle's cheery life assessment "From The Cradle To The Grave".

He wowed the live audience with his playing on the "My Feet Are Smiling" album in 1973 - but of the two tracks he featured from "Greenhouse" (the other was the instrumental "Bean Time") - it was Paul Siebel's lament for "Louise" - a lady of the night who died in a hotel room - that moved the audience. And it's easy to hear why - the beauty of the song having been picked up since by Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt and Willy DeVille. "The Spanish Entomologist" is a combo of his favourite childhood melodies done on rapid slide (you'll hear 'Jambalaya' and 'Tumbling Tumbleweeds' in their amongst others). But that leads into my crave - the five minutes of "Owls" - a simply beautiful acoustic instrumental that speeds then slows then speeds again - his playing sublime - a sort of bluegrass ballad that oozes beauty - I love it to bits. "...I can't take all your love...while you take none of mine..." he pines on the downbeat "You Don't Have To Need Me" - but things cheer up on the unbelievable slide 12-string madness that is "Lost John". Apparently Kottke based his interpretation on Doc Watson's harmonica solo in his Country version of the Traditional.

Unique - majestical – at peace with itself. 

"Greenhouse" is the bomb and damn the torpedoes but keep on singing Leo...

Beat Goes On CD Remasters for LEO KOTTKE

1. Mudlark (1971) - Beat Goes On BGOCD 101

2. Greenhouse (1972) - Beat Goes On BGOCD 50

3. My Feet Are Smiling (Live, 1973) - Beat Goes On BGOCD 134

4. Ice Water (1974) - Beat Goes On BGOCD 146

5. Dreams And All That Stuff (1974) - Beat Goes On BGOCD 132

6. Chewing Pine (1975) - Beat Goes On BGOCD 148

7. Leo Kottke (1977) - Beat Goes On BGOCD 257

8. Burnt Lips (1978) - Beat Goes On BGOCD 259

9. Balance (1979) - Beat Goes On BGOCD 263

10. Live In Europe (1980) - Beat Goes On BGOCD 265

11. Guitar Music (1981) - Beat Goes On BGOCD 261

12. Time Step (1983) - Beat Goes On BGOCD 255
13. Leo Kottke 1971-1976 (1977 compilation) - Beat Goes On BGOCD 362

"Street Corner Symphonies Volume 8: 1956" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (2012 Bear Family CD - Marcus Heumann Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…In Paradise…"

Hot on the heels of their definitive "Blowing The Fuse" and "Sweet Soul Music" CD Series (15 volumes to each genre of R'n'B and Soul) comes their Vocal Group attack - 15 discs spanning 1939 to 1963. Volumes 1 to 10 hit the shops in 2012 and the last five in the spring of 2013. And while critics will argue that Vocal Group music has already been done to death by Rhino (3 x 4CD Box Sets across the decades) and a mountain of other cheapo labels taking advantage of the 50-year copyright law - this is the first time someone reputable (other than Rhino) have had a go - and typically these Bear Family CDs are gorgeous in all the right places - presentation and audio. Here are the Church Bells, In The Still Of The Nite on The Woo Woo Train...

Released October 2012 in Germany - "Street Corner Symphonies Volume 8: 1956" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Bear Family BCD 17286 AR (Barcode 4000127172860) breaks down as follows (I've provided American single catalogue numbers on all tracks - 85:47 minutes):

1. In The Still Of The Nite - THE FIVE SATINS (Standord 6106 and Ember 1005, A)

2. Stranded In The Jungle - THE CADETS (Modern 994, A)

3. On What A Nite - THE DELLS (Vee-Jay 204, A)

4. I Want You To Be My Girl - FRANKIE LYMON and THE TEENAGERS (Gee 1012, A)

5. I'll Be Home - THE FLAMINGOS (Checker 830, A)

6. Ruby Baby - THE DRIFTERS (Atlantic 45-1089, A)

7. My Prayer - THE PLATTERS (Mercury 70893, A)

8. Come Go With Me - THE DELL-VIKINGS (Fee Bee FB-205 and Dot 15538, A)

9. A Thousand Miles Away - THE HEARTBEATS (Hull 720 and Rama 216, A)

10. Up On The Mountain - THE MAGNIFICENTS (Vee-Jay 83, A)

11. The Way You Look Tonight - THE JAGUARS (R-Dell 11, A)

12. Church Bells Will Ring - THE WILLOWS (Melba 102, A)

13. The Closer You Are - THE CHANNELS (Whirlin Disc 100, A)

14. I Promise - JIMMY CASTOR and THE JUNIORS (Wing 90078, A)

15. In Paradise - THE COOKIES (Atlantic 45-1084, A)

16. Zoom - THE CADILLACS with Jesse Powell's Orchestra (Josie 792, A)

17. A Casual Look - THE SIX TEENS (Flip 315, A)

18. Little Girl Of Mine - THE CLEFTONES with Jimmy Wright & His Orchestra (Gee 1011, A)

19. Bad Boy - THE JIVE BOMBERS featuring Clarence Palmer (Savoy 1508, A)

20. Down In Mexico - THE COASTERS (Atlantic 6064, A)

21. Castle In The Sky - THE BOP CHORDS featuring Ernest Harriston (Holiday 2601, A)

22. You Gave Me Peace Of Mind - THE SPANIELS with Al Smith's Orchestra (Vee-Jay 229, B-side of "Please Don't Tease")

23. Ka-Ding-Dong - THE G-CLEFS (Pilgrim 715, A)

24. Devil Or Angel - THE CLOVERS (Atlantic 45-1083, A)

25. I'm So Happy (Tra-La-La-La-La-La) - LEWIS LYMON and THE TEENCHORDS (Fury 1000, A)

26. Bacon Fat - ANDRE WILLIAMS (Mr. Rhythm) & His New Group (Fortune 831 and Epic 9196, A)

27. Rubber Biscuit - THE CHIPS (Josie 803, A)

28. See Saw - THE MOONGLOWS (Chess 1629, A)

29. Lover - JIMMY JONES & THE PRENTENDERS with Jimmy Wright & His Orchestra (Rama 210, A)

30. Let's You And I Go Steady - THE PEARLS with SAMMY LOWE & ORCHESTRA (Onxy 503, A)

31. The Woo Woo Train - THE VALENTINES with Jimmy Wright & His Orchestra (Rama 196, B-side of "Why")

32. Please, Please, Please - JAMES BROWN & His Famous Flames (Federal 12258, A)

The 84-page non-detachable booklet is a feast of indepth liner notes on each release by Grammy-winning writer and lifelong fan BILL DAHL. Let's put it this way - there's a 'Photo Captions' index on Page 83 that tells who's who in the black and white publicity shots that accompany most (not all) of the photos. It actually lists the singer's names  - who else but Bear would do this? There are cool trade adverts from 1956 peppering the text and some of those rare American 45 labels are even pictured in colour (Gee, Mercury, Savoy, Atlantic, Holiday, Josie). The CD repros the rare "Rubber Biscuit" 45 on Josie by The Chips and the spine makes up a single photograph of the series name when you line up all 15 volumes alongside each other on a shelf. Long-standing and trusted names like Walter DeVenne and Billy Vera have been involved and MARCUS HEUMANN did the superb mastering. The sources (as you can imagine) differ wildly but the sound quality to my ears is improved on everything that I've heard before. The audio and presentation are top-class here - and the listen is fab...

1956 was a pivotal year in Vocal Group history hitting something of a pinnacle - and this disc shows that. But what makes it such a fabulous listen is the mixture of paces - slow smoochers - bopping dancers - mid-tempo lurches - and all of it in top audio quality. While The Cadets "Stranded In The Jungle" has always been a funny tune ("meanwhile back in the States...") - the magic really kicks in with the truly gorgeous "Oh What A Nite" by The Dells - as lovely and as romantic a tune as ever penned (and a $120.00 rarity). The same applies to The Heartbeats beautiful "A Thousand Miles Away" where Arthur Crump's Tenor soars as he bemoans distance between him and his girl (they later became Shep and The Limelites) while equally sweet is the lesser-heard cover version of the standard "The Way You Look Tonight" by The Jaguars - a $300 rarity on R-Dell Records (great audio too on the backing singers and accompanying piano).

In between the ballads and crooners you get wicked Fifties R 'n' B dancers like the "queen of my throne" song "Church Bells Will Ring" by The Willows complete with church-like chimes (another $300 rarity). Soul man Jimmy Castor (Jimmy Castor Bunch) started his career on a R 'n' B dancer - the obscure "I Promise" where he does his best Lymon "Juvenile Delinquent" impression. I've always loved The Cookies "In Paradise" - a little slice of Atlantic Records mid-tempo class (it's on the "Atlantic Rhythm & Blues 1949-1974" 8CD box set) while bopping returns with handclaps and saxophone on the happy "Zoom" by The Cadillacs. A soldier boy's face freezes when he proposes in "A Casual Look" by The Six Teens while the happy-teen theme continues on "Little Girl Of Mine".

We slow to the "la, la, la..." chorus on the wonderfully smooth "Bad Boy" by The Jive Bombers where our love-smitten hero tells us that life is "just a bowl of cherries..." (more gorgeous audio too). We then go "Down In Mexico" with The Coasters where a man with a black moustache plays a piano in a Honky Tonk with dodgy consequences South of the Border. A rare and clever inclusion is the upbeat "Castle In The Sky" on the obscure Holiday label by The Bop Chords - top vocal R'n'B with a wicked Sax solo. We're then back to proper Vocal Group territory with The Spaniels on "You Gave Me Peace Of Mind" where you can literally see the group swaying beneath a streetlight. Another Atlantic Records gem is "Devil Or Angel" by the wonderful Clovers - a Number 3 Billboard R'n'B hit in January 1956. Finger-clicking cool kicks in with the impossibly smooth Andre Williams - "it's sweeping the South...that thing called Bacon Fat..." We then go back to dancing with the rare "Rubber Biscuit" by The Chips - a fun and funny song with almost impenetrable rhyming Cab Calloway lyrics - and the utterly infectious and brill "See Saw" by The Moonglows. Happy days... And the whole Disc ends with James Brown giving a nod to the Soul years to come with the incomparably brilliant "Please, Please, Please"

Niggles - they're too expensive as singles discs and perhaps they should have been doubles because real collectors will have more than a few titles on offer here. Bear Family will argue 'but not in this sound quality or presentation' - and they'd have a point.

Having said all of that - what is actually on here is fabulous stuff and given to us with love and affection by a company that cares about voices that would be forgotten without them. Another gold standard from Bear...